D. Kim Hamblin, PhD

Not Jack Reacher

Revisado: 11-09-24

In the introduction, Lee Child said he was encouraged to write short stories after his first published novel. I’m not sure if this was a compilation of previously written short stories, but I suspect it is. The publisher was wrong. Lee Child should stick with his Reacher series of novels. I have read 3 or 4 longer Reacher short stories that I enjoyed. I have listened to all of the novels. I thought for some reason that Safe Enough was a compilation of Reacher stories. I was disappointed when it was . Many of the stories left me hanging, as if they were unfinished. Since I listened, I don’t have a table of contents to refer to particular stories. I didn’t like the characters. The performance was stronger than the stories, but I unfortunately compared it to the readers of the novels. I don’t think I have ever rated and reviewed anything that I thought was less than excellent, but this disappointed me so much that I felt I needed to change my policy.

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On the mark

Revisado: 02-08-23

There are many reviews that have written what I might have written, but much of that is already in the reviews. I would like to emphasize Patterson’s remarkable accuracy on PTSD. I am a Clinical Psychologist and widely read on PTSD, especially on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have and am currently treating multiple veterans of these wars (at 77). Patterson has done his study well. I write study rather than research because he echoes what my patients tell me and goes beyond what he can read in the time devoted to writing a book. He addresses the full range of symptoms in the diagnostic manual (DSM-5), but also important symptoms not in the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. He addresses Brian’s and Sgt. Waylon’s experiences of grief, guilt, and moral injury. Brian feels it, but won’t (or can’t) express it, while Sgt. Waylon puts it into words as he talks about Brian’s action in combat, his grief over the death of men he’s come to love, his guilt over the role he mistakenly believes is his responsibility for the deaths of his men, and the betrayal of his moral beliefs. In my experience, most veterans will not address these concerns without a little prompt. In the McCarran family and their close friends, he touches on family pathology- enmeshment. No one breaches these boundaries until Paul Terry is blindsided by it’s pervasiveness as revealed in the conclusion. Apologies for misspelling character names, not visible in Audible. I might add that I’m a Vietnam era veteran, having received my commission in 1968 just weeks before my letter from the draft board in Mississippi. I was always a psychologist in service in the Army and Air Force, with a 5 year break in the Augusta, GA, VA. I’ve never been shot at, went through a 4 week non-strenuous officer basic training, and never been closer to a combat zone than England. The damage we have done to our military, their families, and our country goes far beyond cost, deaths, and maiming injuries. PTSD has been a family “illness “, suffered by spouses, children, parents, and friends. I see veterans as a civilian psychologist because the VA can’t see enough of them fast enough. Long waits for appointments are common. We must do better ‘for him who has borne the battle”.

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A fragment of a story

Revisado: 10-30-21

If I had known this was the first of what was intended to be a 5 book series of which only 2 were completed, I would not have invested 13 hours in listening to it. I kept hoping it would come to some kind of conclusion. The writing was at times beautiful and evocative and other times overly detailed. Why so much devoted to a cat killing and eating a bird. Many of the characters were unbelievably self centered and arrogant, so few with any redeeming features. In the end, I didn’t like any of them. Not a kind portrayal of the French. I ordinarily only write reviews when I really like a book, but I couldn’t let this one slip by without a word of comment.

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Excellent performance

Revisado: 08-15-20

I haven’t finished the book, so any rating of the story or overall is premature. This is about Will Patton. His voice IS Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell. I can almost see Clete Purcell. I can’t imagine that reading the book conveys the melodic writing of Burke with the power of Patton’s reading. He does the same thing with Steven King’s books.

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Reconciliation

Revisado: 03-06-20

Another beautifully written novel by Ann Patchett. I’m not sure I saw where this was going in the beginning and I was surprised at Tom Hanks’ reading. I have become used to readers changing voices for characters, but the longer I listened, the more I enjoyed the narration. Such expression. In the end, not so much about a house as about reconciliation and forgiveness. The damage done by failure to communicate and the healing power of finally talking and understanding. Maive’s ready forgiveness and desire to reconnect and probe the depth of her mother and her mother’s needs opposed to Danny’s reluctance. Forgiveness is a process more than an event and it was beautifully captured in the book. It happens more often than we think that children move in the direction expected by others rather than their own desires. Danny is misperceived as his father by his widow, yet he is his father in many ways. Lifelong misunderstandings finally righted and people seen as they really are. The characters are so engaging. I reviewed this from my own perspective as a Clinical Psychologist who often seeks to help people forgive as a part of dealing with depression or other emotional problems.

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Philosophical

Revisado: 07-20-19

I have listened to all of Nesbo’s novels. I read and listen to so many that specifics escape me. I am used to the style of good writers moving away from straight through narration with interspersing the plot with shifting to other characters or background, but it struck me that Nesbo’s philosophy of life was revealed in these spots. It added to the appeal of the book. I can’t remember the ones that struck me at the time except for the recency factor in memory. The recall of Harry’s grandfather’s words while fishing with Oleg was almost enough to convince me to get the print copy to read it again. I wish the intervals between his novels was shorter, but quality writing takes time.

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A fitting conclusion

Revisado: 04-19-19

Understandably, reviews range from 1 star to five star. The political content of the book turned off many readers, particularly Trump supporters. President Dennison clearly parallels Trump. Other readers are critical of the length and the multiple story lines that appear unrelated. All of the subplots represent important aspects of the drug trade and its impact. We have the story of a young addict and her attempts to get free of drugs and the difficulty of staying clean in a life with little to look forward to. The story of a young boy who finds his way to America out of fear of being forced to sell drugs only to find himself in the same situation in New York. And once again the complex Art Keller, who understands the big picture of drug cartels and drug wars in Mexico, shifting alliances, murder for power and the abundant amounts of heroin and other drugs that wind up in the streets. The evolution in potency of drugs laced with deadly fentanyl and increasing deadly overdoses. These separate stories weave together the terrible toll of drugs in America. In the last 20 or 30 minutes of Keller’s testimony, there is a frightening and accurate account of the drug trade and America’s role in the drug trade. If you leave out the political implications regarding the President’s complicity, it remains a powerful summary of the 3 books in the trilogy, a powerful description of the violence and betrayal within the cartels, and the role of Americans in the drug trade through our own corruption in providing the market, the biases that enforce the targeting and uneven prosecuting the war on drugs on minorities in investigations,arrests, and incarceration. The New Jim Crow. Strip the political statements out the testimony before Congress and you still have a powerful message about the impact of drugs in America. This is a novel, but it’s underlying story is real. The war on drugs is a failure, yet it perpetuates itself because it’s lucrative for some. So what if it’s 29 hours long. The stories of the Nicos and street prostitution in exchange for drugs is part of the story that needs to be told. The distribution of deadly drugs laced with fentanyl by men whose only concern is money regardless of the destruction of addiction and death by unintentional overdose needs to be highlighted in a way that demands our attention. Read it and ignore the political conspiracy if it bothers you. There’s a lot more in the book. Better yet, listen to Ray Porter give each character his own voice, accent and all.

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Fresh approach

Revisado: 05-22-17

More than a novel, more than the typical approach to a history. I always enjoy a book if I feel like I learned a lot. I wasn't aware at all of the political maneuvering involved or the pressure on Pershing. I also didn't realize America's entry into the war was so late. The perspective from the Marine's point of view brought home the grisly horrors of "the war to end all wars" and the misery in the trenches. When I read something like this, I am inspired to look further and looked for more on the Red Baron and the Lafayette Escadrille. Highly recommended.

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He's back

Revisado: 05-22-17

This may be Nesbo's best. Of course, his books need to be read in the proper order. The same great characters with the usual new editions. Surprised at the ending, but this is nothing new. It's been too long since the last book about Harry; this one sets up another.The performance was very good. I won't write more; I just wanted to praise the book, not write like a literary critic.

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There is no nut in the Nutshell

Revisado: 11-09-16

Who would ever think of a novel from such a unique perspective. The way McEwan uses the language is phenomenal. A character easy to hate, another who evokes ambivalent feelings, and an entertaining fetus that chooses the right action at the perfect time.

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